Editorials

Progress on gay issues encouraging

Posted:
06/30/2013 01:00:00 AM MDT

The acceptance of equality for gay couples has increased at an extraordinary pace.

Civil union provisions, starting with Vermont in 2000, have been enacted in six states. The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001, and there are now 12 states that have since legalized same-sex marriage. The percent of Americans who think same-sex marriage should be legal has jumped from 27 percent in 1996 to 53 percent -- a majority -- today.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the longtime military policy against gays in the armed services, was abolished in 2011. In May 2012, President Obama publicly stated support for marriage equality. All this is to say nothing of the cultural evolution on gay issues, from "Will & Grace" to "Modern Family."

Then came the events of last week.

The Supreme Court struck down the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, saying that married same-sex couples were entitled to federal benefits, and it declined to decide a case from California, effectively allowing gay marriage there.

The pair of rulings are among the most significant developments in the evolution of gay issues in America. We applaud the court for its actions.

Gay Americans have a way to go before they can claim equality, however. The majority of states, including Colorado, do not allow same-sex marriage, and other forms of legal and social discrimination persist.

The recent pace of progress on these issues is encouraging. We hope it continues.

New coordinator pushes Buffs to work, play at level he expectsJim Leavitt has discovered this much about his new defense at Colorado: He has some talent with which to work, but his players need to put it in another gear. Full Story

New coordinator pushes Buffs to work, play at level he expectsJim Leavitt has discovered this much about his new defense at Colorado: He has some talent with which to work, but his players need to put it in another gear. Full Story